Power Semiconductor Devices Having Integrated Inductor

ABSTRACT

An electronic device ( 100 ) with one or more semiconductor chips ( 102 ) has an inductor ( 101 ) assembled on or under the chips. The inductor includes a ferromagnetic body ( 111 ) and a wire ( 104 ) wrapped around the body to form at least a portion of a loop; the wire ends ( 104   a ) are connected to the chips. The assembly is attached to a substrate ( 103 ), which may be a leadframe. The device may be encapsulated in molding compound ( 140 ) so that the inductor can double as a heat spreader ( 111   c ), enhancing the thermal device characteristics.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related in general to the field ofsemiconductor devices and processes, and more specifically to structureand method of integrated inductors for power semiconductor devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Time to Market is a significant factor for the success of semiconductorcomponents in the rapidly expanding markets served by electronicproducts. All too often, though, a redesign of the semiconductorcomponent is required in order to satisfy the changing characteristicrequested by a customer or by the technical needs of a new trend inproducts.

Another significant success factor for semiconductor products is thecapability to satisfy the market trend for miniaturization. This trendis driven and accelerated by new applications for semiconductor productssuch as hand-held appliances, which prefer small-size components.However, an unwelcome roadblock to miniaturization appears, whenever acomponent has to be added as a discrete external part to the product,rather than to be integrated into already existing devices.

The addition of an external part is particularly bothersome in powerdriver circuits, DC-to-DC converters, and power controller circuits. Alarge inductor (up to 200 nH) is usually needed along with thecontroller/converter circuit. Traditionally, this large inductor isplaced as a separate component on the printed circuit board, requiringlarge amounts of interconnection and current to be routed through thepackage substrate; the interconnection creates excessive resistance lossand thermal heating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant recognizes the need for a fresh approach to integrate theinductor with the circuit and to offer at the same time the opportunityto fine-tune the inductance characteristics, improve the thermal deviceperformance, and shield the magnetic field from interfering with thecircuit. The methodology should be coherent, low-cost, and flexibleenough to be applied to different semiconductor product families,including single chip and multi-chip products, and a wide spectrum ofdesign and process variations including wire bond, flip-chip, and metalstud assemblies. With the capability of adjusting circuits internally,the product miniaturization can be supported and time to market can bereduced.

The embodiments of the invention place a magnetic core, such as iron, onor under the components and create one or more loops, or partial loops,with a wire around the core to generate the needed inductance with theleast amount of routing and resistance drop. The inductor wire may belooped by a bonder and is bonded directly to the component. Afterencapsulation, the package size of the integrated device issignificantly reduced compared to conventional side-by-side assembly.

One embodiment of the invention is an electronic device, which has asemiconductor chip (or component) with a first and a second set ofterminals and a substrate with contact pads; the pads are connected tothe second set terminals. The device further has a body containingferromagnetic material with a flat area smaller than the component area.The flat body area is attached to one surface of the chip; the otherchip surface is attached to the substrate. A wire is wrapped around thebody periphery to form at least a portion of a loop; the wire ends areconnected to the first set terminals.

In some embodiments, the chip may include more than one semiconductorchip (integrated circuit, discrete component). The substrate may be ametallic leadframe. The material used for attaching the ferromagneticbody and the chip may be thermally conductive to enhance the thermaldevice performance. The electrical chip connections may be bonding wiresor metal studs. The wire loops around the ferromagnetic body may becreated by a bonder as used in semiconductor manufacturing, or may beprefabricated using off-line equipment.

Another embodiment of the invention is an electronic device, which has asemiconductor chip or component with a first and a second set ofterminals, a substrate with contact pads, and a body containingferromagnetic material including a first and a second flat portion. Awire is wrapped around the body to form at least a portion of a loop;the wire ends are connected to the first set terminals. The chip isattached to the first flat portion of the body, and the second flatportion of the body is attached to the substrate. The first setterminals are connected to the ports and the second set terminals areconnected to the contact pads.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for fabricating anelectronic device. The method places a ferromagnetic body, such as aniron body, on a chip; next, at least a portion of a loop, preferably oneor more wire loops, around the body is created. The preferred techniqueemploys a wire bonder, which is also used to form the electricalinterconnections of semiconductor devices. For some embodiments, anoff-line built inductor may be preferred, especially in devices with aflat area of the body formed by a plate, which extends beyond the bodyperiphery. The plate may be made of ferromagnetic material so that theplate is operable to diminish the magnetic field interfering with thechip circuitry.

The technical advances represented by certain embodiments of theinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings and the novel features set forth in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrate embodiments, in which an inductor is placed ontop of the semiconductor component assembled on a substrate; FIGS. 10 to14 depict embodiments, in which an inductor is placed between thecomponent and the substrate.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an encapsulated power devicewith a semiconductor component assembled on a substrate and an inductorwith ferromagnetic core attached to the active component surface.

FIG. 2 displays a schematic cross section of the device of FIG. 1 withhooks separating the wire loops around the inductor core.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic cross section of an inductor with padsfor attachment to a semiconductor component.

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic cross section of the inductor of FIG. 3 afterassembly on the active surface of the semiconductor component.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section of the device of FIG. 4 afterencapsulation; the inductor retains an un-encapsulated surface to doubleas thermal heat spreader.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section of a semiconductor component withmetal studs for flip-assembly.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic cross section of an inductor with padsdesigned for attachment to a semiconductor component, which has metalstuds.

FIG. 8 displays a schematic cross section of a packaged electronicdevice including a semiconductor component with metal studsflip-assembled on a leadframe and topped by an attached inductor.

FIG. 9 is a schematic partial X-ray view of an encapsulated multi-chipdevice assembled on a leadframe, prepared for attachment of an inductoras shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross section of a power device with asemiconductor component assembled on an inductor with ferromagneticcore, and the inductor, in turn, attached to a substrate such as aleadframe.

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic cross section of the device of FIG. 10after encapsulation; the inductor, attached to the substrate, can doubleas thermal heat spreader; a passive component may be attached to theactive surface of the semiconductor chip.

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic cross section of an embodiment analogous tothe device of FIG. 11 for an SON-type leadframe.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross section of an integrated inductor of apower device with simplified SON-type leadframe.

FIG. 14 displays the embodiment of FIG. 13 with exposed inductor forimproved thermal heat spreading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment, generally designated 100, whichintegrates an inductor, capable of generating an inductance of severalhundred nano-Henry (nH), with a semiconductor power component, such as apower driver circuit, a DC-to-DC converter, or a power controllercircuit. The inductor 101 is positioned on top of the chip or component102, which in turn is assembled on a substrate 103.

Component 102 may be an integrated circuit chip, a discrete component,or a multi-chip arrangement; it may include semiconductor devices madeof silicon, silicon germanium, gallium arsenide, or any othersemiconductor material. Component 102 has a certain area, and an activesurface 102 a and a passive surface 102 b. On the active surface 102 aare a first set of terminals 121 and a second set of terminals 122.

Inductor 101 has a body 111, which includes ferromagnetic material suchas iron. The body has a periphery 111 a and a flat surface 111 b. Theflat surface 111 b has an area smaller than the area of component 102.The shape of body 111 may be cylindrical or rectangular, and body 111may be solid or hollow.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the ferromagnetic body 111 has two flatareas, 111 b and 111 c. It is preferred that both flat areas are formedby a plate, which extends beyond the body periphery 111 a. The platesare preferably made ferromagnetic material such as an iron sheet; thesheets operate to diminish the magnetic field interfering with the chipcircuitry. In addition, the plates are thermally conductive. In someembodiments, plate 111 c is enlarged and left outside of encapsulation140. The plate can thus serve as a heat spreader, greatly improving thethermal performance of embodiment 100.

Substrate 103 may be the chip pad of a metallic leadframe, or it may bea sheet-like substrate made of insulating material laminated with one ormore layers of patterned conductive lines and vias. Substrate 103 hascontact pads 131.

In FIG. 1, the passive surface 102 b of chip 102 is attached tosubstrate 103 by a layer 132 of adhesive material. Further, the flatsurface 111 b of body 101 is attached to the active surface 102 a ofcomponent 102, preferably by a layer 123 of adhesive material, which isthermally conductive. The thermal conductivity of layer 123 cansubstantially improve the distribution of the heat generated by theactive chip surface.

As FIG. 1 shows, a wire 104, preferably made of gold or copper, iswrapped around the periphery 111 a of body 111; the wrapping may includea portion of a loop, a full loop, or several loops. The first and secondends 104a of wire 104 are connected to the first set terminals 121 ofchip 102, preferably by ball bonds or stitch bonds. Further, the secondset terminals 122 are preferably connected to substrate contact pads 131by wire bonds 105. Alternatively, the second set terminals are connectedto the substrate contact pads by metal studs in a flip-assembly method.

To prevent an electrical short between the wire loops or the wire andthe body periphery 111 a, wire 104 may have an insulating coat on itssurface; alternatively, the body periphery may an insulting layer on thebody surface or an insulating film between the body surface and the wireloops. As another option, FIG. 2 illustrates loop separators 201 to keepthe wire loops from getting shorted. Separators 201 are strategicallypositioned hooks or notches, which hold individual loops and keep adistance between the looping wires and the surface of the body. The wire104 can be guided through these structures by manipulating the wirebonded in a precise manner manually or by a computer.

In the preferred fabrication method, wire 104 is wrapped around theperiphery of body 111 by a bonder similar to the wire bonder used tomanufacture the wire bonds 105. In addition, the wire ends 104 a areattached to the first set terminals 121 by ball or stitch bonds.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the assembled component 102, theferromagnetic body 111 and the electrical connections 104 and 105 arepreferably encapsulated in an insulating compound 140 such as anepoxy-based molding compound.

Based on the ferromagnetic material in body 111, inductor 101 can easilyprovide a self inductance of several hundred nH, even for only few wireloops. Generally, the self induction coefficient L, or simply theinduction L, of an elongated coil, which has n tight windings or loopsso that the magnetic field outside the coil can be neglected, isproportional to n². The proportionality factor includes the magneticpermeability u (which has the dimension joule·sec²/coulomb²·meter)multiplied by the cross section F (meter²) of the coil, divided by thelength 1 (meter) of the coil.

L=(ρF/l)n².

The unit of inductance is 1 Henry (H)=1 joule·sec²/coulomb²=1volt·sec/ampere. The inductance in integrated circuits is typicallyexpressed in 10⁹H=nH.

For vacuum, the magnetic permeability μ is equal 1; for air, μ is closeto 1; for ferromagnetic materials, μ can have values of several hundredto several ten thousand dependent on the iron content and theconstruction of the ferromagnetic body.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate an embodiment assembled with an inductormanufactured separately from the fabrication of the chip wire bonding.FIG. 3 shows an inductor, generally designated 300, with a ferromagneticcore 301 and an inductor wire 302 forming at least one loop around thecore, without contacting the core. The wire ends are connected toattachment sites 303 located on an extension of the end plate, which hasexternal pads 305 for connection to the semiconductor component. Pads305 have a metallurgical surface composition suitable either for solderattachment, or for conductive adhesive (such as silver-filled epoxy).While it is preferred for some embodiments to employ the inductor 300 asan off-line fabricated part, it is alternatively feasible to wrap wire302 around core 301 by a wire bonder after the inductor has beenassembled.

In FIG. 4, inductor 300 is assembled on component 402. The activesurface 402 a of component 402 has a first set of terminals 421, whichare positioned and shaped to match the pads 305 of the inductor. Pads305 are conductively attached to terminals 421 using an electricallyconductive attach material 423 such as solder or metal-filled epoxy. Thelarge size of pads 305 reduces the interconnect resistance of theassembly in FIG. 4. Active surface 402 a further has a second set orterminals 422, which serve the connections (such as wire bonds) tosubstrate contact pads 431. Component 402 is attached to substrate 403using attach material 432, which is preferably thermally conductive.Substrate 403 may be the component pad of a metallic leadframe, or alaminated substrate.

FIG. 5 indicates the encapsulation 540 of the assembly of FIG. 4 so thatthe top plate 301 c on inductor core 301 remains exposed outside of theencapsulation material. In other embodiments, top plate 301 c isextended to a size indicated by dashed extensions 550. The extendedplate increases the thermal dissipation, especially with the aid of anattached external heat sink.

Another embodiment of an inductor designed for integration withflip-assembled components is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9. A simplifiedcross section of a chip or component 601 with metal studs is shown inFIG. 6. The component 601, for instance an integrated circuit chip, hasa multitude of metal studs 602, such as copper bumps, deposited on thechip I/O ports as a replacement of connecting wires. A preferreddeposition method is plating. For some embodiments, it is advantageousto pre-attach a thermally conductive buffer 603 on the passive surfaceof the chip. An example is silver-filled epoxy, which can also serve asan adhesive to attach the inductor on the chip. Due to the height 610 ofthe metal-studded component, the inductor has to have high conductivestand-off pins.

FIG. 7 depicts the inductor 700. A ferromagnetic core 701 has a platedmetal top 702 and plated metal bottom 703. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,plate 702 has a smaller diameter than plate 703; in other embodiments,plate 702 may have the same as, or even larger diameter than plate 703.An inductor wire 704 forms at least one loop around the core, withoutcontacting the core. The wire ends are connected to attachment sites 705located on plate 703. The bottom plate also has conductive standoff pins706 for connection to the semiconductor component. Pins 706 have asurface 706a with a metallurgical composition suitable either for solderattachment, or for conductive adhesive (such as silver-filled epoxy).While it is preferred to employ the inductor 700 as a separate part, itis alternatively feasible to wrap wire 704 around core 701 by a wirebonder as used in semiconductor wire bonding.

FIG. 8 illustrates the inductor integrated with the semiconductorcomponent after assembly and encapsulation. The attachment of inductorplate 703 to component 601 is facilitated by thermal attachment layer603. In order to accomplish the attachment onto substrate 801, a layer802 of reflow metal (solder) or silver-filled epoxy is employed. Itshould be noted that substrate 801 is shaped to provide localizedexternal pins 810, 811, 812, etc. A preferred embodiment for substrate801 is a metallic leadframe configured as a so-called “small outlineno-lead” (SON) frame. Inductor pins 706 and component metal studs 602are partially immersed in layer 802. A single pass process step atelevated temperature is sufficient to accomplish the attachment betweenlayer 802 and metal suds 602 and inductor pins 706; an example is solderattachment by metal reflow.

After the assembly of inductor, component and substrate (leadframe), theunit is encapsulated, preferably in an epoxy-based molding compound 820.As FIG. 8 shows, the encapsulation compound embeds the component and theinductor core and wire, and fills all device and assembly gaps (such as821), but leaves the bottom contacts (external pins) 810 etc., and thetop inductor plate 702 un-encapsulated. Plate 702 serves as heatspreader and thermal conductor to the ambient or a heat sink; thisfunction is optimized by extending plate 702 as indicated in FIG. 8 bythe dashed lines 702 a. On the other hand, keeping the area of plate 702smaller than the area of plate 703 facilitates the winding of wire by awire bonder.

The technology of providing the connection of the component by metalstuds instead of wires simplifies the assembly of multi-chip devices. Asan example, FIG. 9 depicts (in a partial X-ray view) a device with threechips 901 flip-attached by studs onto a leadless metallic leadframe 920.The assembly replaces the single chip 601 in FIG. 8, while the attachedinductor 930 serves the multi-chip assembly.

Another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14,integrates the inductor into the semiconductor power device bypositioning the component on top of the inductor. In FIG. 10, thecomponent 1001 may be an integrated circuit chip, a discrete component,or a multi-chip arrangement. Component, or chip, 1001 has an activesurface 1001 a and a passive surface 1001 b. On the active surface 1001a are a first set of terminals 1011 and a second set of terminals 1012.

Inductor 1002 is made of a body 1021, which includes ferromagneticmaterial such as iron. The body has a periphery 1022, a first flatportion 1023 with connection ports 1024, and a second flat portion 1025.The shape of body 1021 may be cylindrical or rectangular, and body 1021may be solid or hollow. It is preferred that both flat portions 1023 and1025 are formed by a plate, which extends beyond the body periphery1022. The plates are preferably made ferromagnetic material such as aniron sheet; the sheets operate to diminish the magnetic fieldinterfering with the chip circuitry. In addition, the plates arethermally conductive. The plates can thus serve as heat spreaders,greatly improving the thermal device performance.

Substrate 1003 may be the chip pad of a metallic leadframe, or it may bea laminated substrate. Substrate 1003 has contact pads 1031.

In FIG. 10, the passive surface 1001 b of component 1001 is attached tofirst flat portion 1023 of inductor 1002 by a layer 1040 of adhesivematerial, which is preferably thermally conductive. Further, the secondflat portion 1025 of the inductor is attached to substrate 1003,preferably by a layer 1041 of adhesive material, which is thermallyconductive. The first set terminals 1011 are connected to the ports 1024by bond wires 1050.

As FIG. 10 shows, a wire 1004, preferably made of gold or copper, iswrapped around the periphery 1022 of body 1021; the wrapping may includea portion of a loop, a full loop, or several loops. The first and secondends of wire 1004 are connected to the first set terminals 1011 ofcomponent 1001; in more detail, the wire ends are attached to firstplate 1023 and from the plate ports 1024 through bond wires 1050 toterminals 1011.

Further, the second set terminals 1012 are connected to substratecontact pads 1031 by wire bonds 1051. In FIG. 10, where the substrate isembodied as a leadframe, the inductor is attached to the pad of theleadframe and the contact pads 1031 are embodied as the leads; in turn,the leads are connected by bonding wires 1051 to the second setterminals 1012.

To prevent an electrical short between the wire loops or the wire andthe body periphery 1022, wire 1004 may have an insulating coat on itssurface; alternatively, the body periphery 1022 may an insulting layeron the body surface or an insulating film between the body surface andthe wire loops. As another option, the inductor may have hooks ornotches positioned so that individual loops are kept at a distance fromeach other and from the periphery 1022 (see also FIG. 2).

In FIG. 11, the assembled chip, the ferromagnetic body, and theelectrical connections are encapsulated in an insulating compound 1101,preferably an epoxy-based molding compound. The encapsulation processleaves the device pad 1003 of the substrate (leadframe) un-encapsulatedfor unimpeded thermal conduction and heat spreading. On the other hand,leads 1102 of the leadframe are trimmed and formed for surface mountassembly to external parts. The assembly and packaging process steps arelow cost, and the resulting device has a small size.

For some embodiments, it is advantageous to further integrate passivecomponents, such as input/output capacitors, into the same package. FIG.11 indicates this possibility by the flip-assembled component 1110,shown in dashed outline.

The substrate of the embodiment in FIG. 12 is shown as a leadframeconfiguration for an SON (Small Outline, No Lead) package. The inductorand component assembly is attached to pad 1003, and the wire connections1051 of the second set component terminals are attached to pins 1201,while the wire ends of the inductor wire 1004 are attached to pins 1202.The connection from pins 1202 to the first set component terminals runthrough the external circuitry. In this embodiment, it is preferred towind the inductor wire 1004 by a wire bonder, which has been instructedto also connect the wire ends to pins 1202.

FIG. 13 illustrates the leadless package configuration of the integratedinductor for a power semiconductor device so that the wire ends ofinductor wire 1004 are attached to inductor plate 1023, as in FIGS. 10and 11. The pins 1201 serve the electrical connections 1051 to thecomponent (second set terminals). The resulting device may thus havesmall size, and the inductor under the component can double as heatspreader. In a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 13, leads 1201 maybelong to a substrate different from pad 1003, resulting in higherpackage integration.

Further improvement of the thermal device performance can be achieved bythe leadless package configuration of the embodiment in FIG. 14. Thebottom flat portion 1025 of the inductor is directly exposed to theambient and thus offers a direct thermal path to the ambient or heatsink. In order to facilitate the attachment to a heat sink, it ispreferred to plate the outside surface of portion 1025 with a solderablemetal configuration, such a layer of nickel followed by an outside layerof palladium.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for fabricating anelectronic device, especially a power device, which integrates aninductor into the package by placing the inductor on top of the powerdevice. The method provides one or more semiconductor chips orcomponents, such as a power driver circuit, a DC-to-DC converter, or apower controller circuit, with an area, an active surface including afirst and a second set of terminals, and a passive surface. Further, asubstrate, for instance a leadframe or a laminated substrate, isprovided with contact pads. The passive surfaces of the components arethen attached to the substrate, for instance using a thermallyconductive adhesive.

Next, a body containing ferromagnetic material is provided, whichincludes a flat area smaller than the chip area; an example is a full orhollow iron cylinder. The flat body area is then attached to the activechip surface.

Next, a wire, preferably gold or copper, is provided; the wire has afirst and a second end. The wire is wrapped around the body periphery toform at least a portion of a loop, preferably one or more full loops.The first and second wire ends are attached to the first set terminals,for instance by wire bonding. The inductor can produce and control aninductance of several hundred nH.

Finally, the second set terminals are connected to the contact pads.This can be achieved by wire bonding, or by flip-assembly. The assembledinductor, component and substrate may be encapsulated, for example in amolding compound, preferably so that the inductor and the substrateremain available to double as heat spreaders. The result is anintegrated, low cost, thermally improved, and geometrically small-areapower device with a controlled inductance.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for fabricating anelectronic device, especially a power device, which integrates aninductor into the package by placing the inductor under the powerdevice. The method provides one or more semiconductor chips orcomponents with an active surface including a first and a second set ofterminals, and a passive surface. Further a substrate with contact padsis provided.

Next, a body containing ferromagnetic material, such as a full or ahollow iron cylinder, is provided; the body includes a first and asecond flat portion, for instance a plate placed on each end of thecylinder. The first flat portion has connection ports. The componentsare attached, with their passive surfaces, to the first flat portion ofthe body, for instance by a thermally conductive adhesive.

A wire with a first and a second end is provided. The wire is wrappedaround the body to form at least a portion of a loop, and the first andsecond wire ends are connected to the first set terminals.

The second flat portion of the body is attached to the substrate, forinstance by a thermally conductive epoxy or polyimide compound. Thefirst set terminals are connected to the ports; and the second setterminals are connected to the contact pads.

While this invention has been described in reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompassany such modifications or embodiments.

1. An electronic device comprising: a semiconductor chip having an area;ferromagnetic material with a body including a flat area; the chipattached to the flat body area; a wire having a first and a second end,the wire wrapped around the body to form at least a portion of a loop;the first and second wire ends connected to the chip; and the chip, bodyand wire encapsulated in an insulating compound.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1 wherein the chip includes one or more circuit chips ordiscrete components.
 3. An electronic device comprising: a semiconductorchip having an area, an active surface including a first and a secondset of terminals, and a passive surface; a substrate having contactpads; the passive chip surface attached to the substrate; a bodycontaining ferromagnetic material including a flat area smaller than thechip area; the flat body area attached to the active chip surface; awire having a first and a second end, the wire wrapped around the bodyto form at least a portion of a loop; the first and second wire endsconnected to the first set terminals; the second set terminals connectedto the contact pads; and insulating compound encapsulating the assembledchip, ferromagnetic body and electrical connections.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 3 further including a thermally conductive attachmaterial between the body and the chip.
 5. The device according to claim3 further having an insulation between the looping wire and the body. 6.The device according to claim 5 wherein the insulation is provided byseparators creating a distance between the looping wire and the surfaceof the body.
 7. The device according to claim 3 wherein the connectionsof the wire ends to the first set terminals are wire bonds.
 8. Thedevice according to claim 3 wherein the connections of the second setterminals to the contact pads are wire bonds.
 9. The device according toclaim 3 wherein the connections of the second set terminals to thecontact pads are metal studs.
 10. The device according to claim 3wherein the substrate is a metallic leadframe.
 11. The device accordingto claim 3 wherein the flat area of the ferromagnetic body is formed bya plate extending beyond the body periphery, the extension providingconnection sites for the first and second wire ends as well asconductive attachment of the body to the first set chip terminals. 12.The device according to claim 11 wherein the plate is made offerromagnetic material so that the plate is operable to shield themagnetic field from interfering with the chip.
 13. An electronic devicecomprising: a semiconductor chip having an active surface including afirst and a second set of terminals, and a passive surface; a substratehaving contact pads; a body containing ferromagnetic material includinga first and a second flat portion, a flat portion having connectionports; the passive chip surface attached to the first flat portion ofthe body; the first set terminals connected to the ports; a wire havinga first and a second end, the wire wrapped around the body to form atleast a portion of a loop; the first and second wire ends connected tothe first set terminals; the second flat portion of the body attached tothe substrate; and the second set terminals connected to the contactpads.
 14. The device according to claim 13 further having passive unitsassembled with the chip or the body.
 15. The device according to claim13 further including an encapsulation of the assembled chip,ferromagnetic body and electrical connections in an insulating compound.16. The device according to claim 13 wherein the substrate is a metallicleadframe.
 17. The device according to claim 13 wherein the first andthe second flat portion of the body containing ferromagnetic material isformed by a plate extending beyond the body periphery, the extensionproviding connection sites for the first and second wire ends as well asconductive attachment of the body to the first set chip terminals. 18.The device according to claim 17 wherein the plates are made offerromagnetic material so that the plates are operable to shield themagnetic field from interfering with the chip.
 19. A method forfabricating an electronic device comprising the steps of: providing asemiconductor chip having an area, an active surface including a firstand a second set of terminals, and a passive surface; providing asubstrate having contact pads; attaching the passive chip surface to thesubstrate; providing a body containing ferromagnetic material includinga flat area smaller than the chip area; attaching the flat body area tothe active chip surface; providing a wire having a first and a secondend; wrapping the wire around the body by means of a semiconductor wirebonder to form at least a portion of a loop; connecting the first andsecond wire ends to the first set terminals; connecting the second setterminals to the contact pads; and encapsulating the assembled chip,ferromagnetic body and electrical connections in an insulating compound.20. A method for fabricating an electronic device comprising the stepsof: providing a semiconductor chip having an active surface including afirst and a second set of terminals, and a passive surface; providing asubstrate having contact pads; providing a body containing ferromagneticmaterial including a first and a second flat portion, a flat portionhaving connection ports; attaching the passive chip surface to the firstflat portion of the body; providing a wire having a first and a secondend; wrapping the wire around the body by means of a semiconductor wirebonder to form at least a portion of a loop; connecting the first andsecond wire ends to the first set terminals; attaching the second flatportion of the body to the substrate; connecting the first set terminalsto the ports; connecting the second set terminals to the contact pads;and encapsulating the assembled chip, ferromagnetic body, and electricalconnections in an insulating compound.